Social Media: Are You Using It or Being Used By It?


Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to promote student awareness regarding social media and the impacts of its use. Students are also encouraged to think critically about social media and the impact it has on their lives. The previous lesson simply introduced students to the concept of social media.

1. Answer these questions before you watch the clip below.
  1. What is social media to you?
  2. What kinds of social media do you use? What do you use them for?
  3. List what you think are some pros and cons concerning social media.


2. Watch the video clip below. As you watch (or after you finish watching) write down 2-3 points you find interesting or surprising about the clip.



3. Answer these questions after you have watched the video clip.
  1. Choose one of the points you wrote down and write a brief reflection on why it was interesting or surprising. E.g. How might it impact or affect you? What does it mean to you?
  2. Reflect on the types of social media you use and how often you use them. How might the use of social media impact your life? (Note: Not how social media impacts you, but how the use of it impacts you).
  3. If you post information, pictures or videos online, reflect on what influences you to post certain things but not others. Why might it be important to carefully consider what we post online?
  4. Based on this video clip, what do you think the future will hold? E.g. What types of technologies will we have? How will people interact? You can write a short paragraph or create a visual representation of your ideas.

Does all this thinking about social media make you want to use it? Click here .

Bring your answers to the above questions to next class. They will be used as an admit slip for a class discussion.